Cardinal Dolan Says Appearance at Republican National Convention Isn't Political

In an interview with the Roman Catholic broadcaster EWTN, Mitt Romney revealed today that Cardinal Timothy Dolan will deliver the closing prayer after he accepts the Republican nomination next week in Tampa. Though it's hard to imagine a more political event, Dolan wants to make it clear that this isn't a partisan move and doesn't mean he's endorsing Romney for president. In fact, he'd be willing to give the benediction at the Democratic National Convention as well, though that would be kind of awkward since his archdiocese is currently suing President Obama over his birth control mandate.

Joseph Zwilling, spokesman for the Archdiocese of New York, told the New York Times that Cardinal Dolan agreed to participate “within the last two weeks." He added:

“Cardinal Dolan is going to pray, not to engage in partisan politics. He made it clear when he accepted the invitation that he would also accept an invitation from the Democratic National Committee to offer a prayer at their convention, should they ask ... He is going simply to pray, which is part of what a priest should do.”

Dolan was one of the leaders of Catholic effort to block President Obama's mandate that religious organizations must include coverage for birth control and emergency contraception in their employees' health insurance. Religious leaders weren't satisfied with Obama's compromise, which involved insurance companies covering the cost of birth control for organizations that object on religious grounds. In May, 43 Catholic groups across the country filed lawsuits against the Obama administration, charging that the mandate violates their religious freedom.

Romney actually revealed that Dolan will be appearing at the convention in a response to a question about Catholic bishops' opposition to Obama's health care plan. Romney said he plans to "continue to meet with Cardinal Dolan, and wants to make it "very clear that the interest of religious freedom is something I support wholeheartedly.” It's more common for the local bishop to give the blessing at the convention, but Dolan's leadership on the health care issue isn't the only possible reason that the Romney campaign tapped him instead. When Cardinal Dolan served as the archbishop of Milwaukee from 2002 to 2009 he became close with a certain Catholic representative from Wisconsin, who'll also be accepting his party's nomination next week.TOPICS:Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: New YorkKEYWORDS:archbishopdolan; cardinaldolan; gopconvention2012; tampa

Catholic clergy have to stop the charade of being non political or impartial. How could any legitimate Catholic clergyman give credence to the Democrat convention. The Democrat convention by its own admission will be a celebration of abortion and homosexuality. They will renominate a man who not only celebrates abortion but heartily endorses partial birth abortion.The key speaker will be the degenerate Bill Clinton. If Dolan or any other high ranking Catholic prelate gave a blessing at that evil convocation, it would be a sin.

I DARE the Dems to invite Dolan to pray - can’t wait to see the femi-nazi outrage and the idiotic comments about this that would come from the likes of Sandra Flukme ... I swear, that last word was a typo, I swear :)

God has a plan and puts those whom He will into power for reasons we often do not understand.

Ephesians 6:

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might. 12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Wherefore take up the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.

Dolan 2012: The Most Dangerous Man In America...Talent On Loan From God...Having More Fun Than A Human Being Should Be Allowed To Have...Serving Humanity Just By Being Here, And It Doesn’t Matter Where Here Is...Harmless, Loveable Little Fuzzball And All-Around Nice Guy...Debating Obama With Half His Brain Tied Behind His Back, Just To Make It Fair...Not Your Guiding Light Through Times Of Trouble, Confusion, Murkiness, Tumult, Chaos, Lies, Deceit, Stupidity, Ignorance, And Even The Good Times, Just Your Guiding Light’s Humble Servant.

(Borrowed and adapted from that other big guy from Missouri. I don’t think he’ll mind.)

The hurricane is headed right for Tampa. They need to change the venue to somewhere in Ohio ASAP. They still have time to change it but they need to do it now or it will be a very reduced convention if one at all.

If, as noted above by Dr. Sivana and Campaign Pete R-CT and later by Tennessee Nana, Timothy Cardinal Dolan will be accepting the Republican POTUS nomination, then God has truly intervened to save us from the worst mistake made since the nominations of Herbert Hoover. If true, perhaps, the Demonrats may be influenced by God as well and dump their presumptive nominee in favor of Timothy Cardinal Dolan. If not:

Both Obozo and Mittler are fond of persecuting the Roman Catholic Church and all other pro-life churches. There is no reason for Timothy Cardinal Dolan to endorse either.

Timothy Cardinal Dolan may feel free to use the following blessing, if the Democrats invite him and no attribution or royalty need be offered (my gift to my Church of which I am merely an unworthy member):

"Oh, God, bless the Democratic Party by guiding it to a full return to genuine pro-life principles protecting innocent human life, and to its prior historic commitment to normal marriage between one man and one woman for life and to understand and abide by God's commandment to not commit adultery, and to a firm respect for religious liberty as guaranteed in the First Amendment to our Constitution, and to a full commitment to the individual right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed by the Second Amendment and which characterized Christian Crusaders in earlier centuries, and to an understanding of the primacy of the family as THE basic institution of human society in the terms laid down by Pope Leo XIII of happy memory in his encyclical Rerum Novarum, and may God inspire even those in our nation's highest offices to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in the next, especially in those cases in which the officeholders, by their prior lives have expressed contempt for Him and for His commandments throughout their lives to date. We ask this in Jesus's name. Amen."

Substitute "Republican" for Democrat for delivery at the GOP Convention. Totally even-handed and not seen as an endorsement of either party or candidate in this God-forsaken year of 2012. If either party or candidate feels the lash from such a blessing, let it or he examine their or his conscience (if any).

I’m wondering who the dope is responsible for having the convention in FL in the height of the hurricane season, about the same time Andrew devastated FL. Out of all the 50 states from which to choose, they choose FL?

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